Referee Wayne Barnes was the focus of criticism after France’s astonishing 20-18 Six Nations victory over Wales, which ended with 20 minutes of added time, a disputed substitution and fierce debate about the official’s failure to award a penalty try.
The clock showed 99 minutes and 55 seconds when France’s replacement flanker Damien Chouly touched the ball down after nine penalty scrums and Camille Lopez slotted over the conversion to seal victory for the hosts.
France felt the game should have been brought to a close sooner with a penalty try as Wales were repeatedly penalised at the scrum, while the visitors focused their ire on a substitution they said damaged the game’s integrity.
In failing to award a penalty try, France coach Guy Noves claimed the English referee fell into a trap of his own making, while lock Yoann Maestri lashed out at the official.
“We were refereed like a small team and it’s very painful. Barnes told me that we were not dominant enough in the scrum. But the Welsh were rigging every scrum,” Maestri said.
“They were letting themselves get turned. It’s down to the referee to spot it.”
Maestri added that Barnes’ failure to award a penalty try showed he had lost control.
“It was verging on nuclear warfare on the sidelines and the referee didn’t react,” he said.
France forwards coach Yannick Bru, however, was pleased his players did not let frustration get the better of them.
“I knew that Barnes, whom I’ve gotten to know over time, would not award a penalty try. But my players did not make any mistake,” he said.
“We were more stubborn than Mr Barnes.”
Wales were equally upset in the aftermath, however, accusing the French of making an unlawful substitution, which coach Rob Howley said brought the game’s integrity into disrepute.
Starter Rabah Slimani was allowed back on as replacement prop Uini Atonio was taken off for a head injury assessment. Howley said he believes the substitution was planned.
“What happened in the last moments of that game shouldn’t ever happen again,” said Howley.
“One of the coaches had a word with their doctor and within a minute of that their tighthead went off. The evidence suggests that it’s not in the integrity of our game.”
taylorman
Guest
Yeah tend to agree, was waiting for either another player off or a penalty try but no specific scrum looked like the one for the try. I've seen Barnes ref worse than that.
Bakkies
Guest
Time was up when the conversion was lined up. He stated while play was in motion that he was going to bin Biggar
Number12
Roar Rookie
Said he was going to bin Biggar then didn't just cause the French scored. Should've binned him before the conversion - many refs do the same which is very poor/weak
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
As a ref I DID override a HIA by a team doctor. The doctor said the player was fine and it was clearly obvious that the player was groggy and "not there". My responsibility (to use the Irish captain's words) to make sure players are safe. I got the player out. Doc and coach not happy. I didn't care.
Gewurtz
Guest
Barbes is an inconsistent referee, something unacceptable at this level. Personally, I have no confindence in him and always expect him to ruin the game he is part of.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Just in case anyone ever forgets, Mania.
maxxlord
Roar Rookie
Barnes is one of the better referees going around, fullstop.
Riddler
Guest
Barnes reffed well.. Credit to him for holding his nerve in those last 15 mins.. many would have folded. .
AndyS
Guest
Perhaps, but “lesser team” doesn't reflect any better on the referees. Or themselves for that matter, when the implication is that they accept and even expect to be refereed differently. Certainly not saying it doesn't happen mind, and at more than just the top level...
taylorman
Guest
It was fun watching it, got my money's worth with just on a hundred minutes of rugby, but yes lovely to have Mr Barnes performance scrutinised by others. Must be a record having the winning score 19 minutes after normal times up to lose from there. In my day we'd be showered and in the bar by then!
Old Bugger
Guest
Perhaps, he meant "lesser team" as in 2nd tier rather than 1st tier.....I've seen Mr Barnes referee, another game, like that where awarding a penalty, didn't happen at all, for a whole half-game. This time, the "small team", were waiting for a penalty try, which also, didn't happen for half, of half a game.
AndyS
Guest
Have to say I found the phrase "We were refereed like a small team" curious...
Moonboot
Guest
Barnes followed the laws in a difficult situation - there will always be chimpanzees criticising from the sideline.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Not sure what Barnes is being criticised for. No referee is going to overrule a medic on a HIA call. One is a trained medical professional & the other is (generally) not. The French scrum could have been awarded with a penalty try but Barnes was communicating with the French skipper & telling him they weren't moving the Welsh scrum back enough. If that's the standard he started with there is no reason to change it because of the time gone. Credit the French for the control the maintained in that 20 minutes & the Welsh need to look at their discipline.
dontcallmeshirley
Guest
I am no real fan of Barnes as a referee, however I would have to agree. He was in a difficult situation and did what he had to do. The Welsh were constantly infringing. In many ways it the the most enthralling 20 minutes of 6N rugby I have watched. I recall however that as the 80 was up they didn't seem to stop the clock as much as they normally do. I suspect there was only 5-6 minutes of rugby played. This also allowed Wales to get a player back from the bin who should not have been allowed back as he was in the bin at the 80 minute mark.
ajg
Guest
I totally agree, none of those scrums looked like it was going over the line. but he should maybe have sent another welsh player to the bin earlier (although he did say out loud that biggar was going to the bin just before the french scored)
Rugbyfan101
Guest
Having watched the whole game once and the last twenty minutes twice more I think the criticism of Wayne Barnes is over the top. Just focusing on the last 20 he was in a very difficult position and while most of those scrums were french penalties on a number of them they were not penalty try worthy. For example on at least two occasions the French front row popped up before the welsh. Now generally the team going forward gets the benefit of the doubt but to award a penalty try on that is, in my opinion, wrong.
Old Bugger
Guest
I guess from Wales POV, Barnes has drawn the ire of another side even if, he tried his hardest, to keep them in the game. Mind you, France are also not happy, with this whistling display......the mind-boggles when a referee can earn, so much distaste.
Bakkies
Guest
On the topic of yellow cards had Chouly not have scored that try Biggar was heading to the bin for a professional foul.
Bakkies
Guest
Nah Barnes did his best to keep Wales in it and he was in charge of them two weeks in a row. That simply should not happen. Wales also had to be reminded they needed to reminded that they had to take a player off after Lee was sent to the bin